Celebrating 75 Years - Montague, NJ
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Celebrating 75 Years
The humble beginnings of Catholicism in Montague, NJ
“Father Senez was sent to Madison [NJ] in 1846 by Archbishop Hughes. He was tireless
and unwearying in searching out the faithful scattered throughout Morris and Sussex and
even Warren counties. Despite his unfamiliarity with the English tongue he attended
"Vendues" and gatherings of every description where our people might be expected to
attend, and peering into their faces addressed those who he thought were Catholics. In one
of his journeys he discovered a Catholic family in Montagu, near the Delaware River, and
baptized their infant son, now the Rt. Rev. Monsignor O'Grady of New Brunswick. “
“Rt. Rev. B. J. McQuaid, succeeding Father Senez at Madison, imitated him in his zeal, and by
his repeated trips became acquainted with every nook and corner that gave shelter and a
home to Catholics. And, indeed, in every quarter of the county Catholics were to be found.
….. In Montague a happy cluster always welcomed the priest; … “
Excerpted from The Catholic Church in New Jersey by Flynn, Joseph M., published in 1904.
2
http://msgrogradyassembly.com/ogrady.html
Rev. O’Grady, was born in Montague, NJ on July 3rd, 1849
according to passport # 24540 off Ancestry.com, which he was issued while serving at New Brunswick.
1850 Federal Census : Michael Ogradee & wife, Bridget, and son, John, age 2 living in the Brick House area.
The family moved away by 1860. John began stuying for the priesthood at age 16 in Maryland and completed his education at Seton Hall College in NJ.
After his ordination in 1874, he first became a private secretary to Bishop Corrigan of the diocese of Newark.
3
July 6, 1941
A former schoolhouse was acquired
for St. Thomas the Apostle Mission.
Assisting Bishop Thomas McLaughlin, the
first bishop of the new Diocese of Paterson
(1937), in opening churches in Sussex
County - Msgr. Michael Donnelly, pastor at
St. Joseph’s, oversaw the earliest missions. 4
as per June 5, 1941 Sussex Register
St. Bartholomew Church -
Chapel in Lafayette, NJ
1942 – 1951
Also a residence for the priest
assigned to the missions until
Administrator Our Lady Queen of Peace
of Parish was established in
the Western Branchville in 1950 and later
Sussex Missions St. James added its rectory.
1942 - 1944
5
Father Hewetson informed the Bishop: “Last
Monday morning, the Commemoration of All
Souls’, we held the first Mass in the township of
Montague, at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Staudt”
in a letter dated Nov. 6th, 1942.
Pike County Dispatch April 8, 1943
Staudt residence – date unknown
6
Rev. Matthew Sharkey was assigned
to, but only stayed in Sussex County
through Jan. & Feb. of 1945, before
Father Warlikowski came to fill that
vacancy .
Sussex Independent Nov. 22, 1945
Rev. Francis Warlikowski
Administrator of Western Sussex Missions 1944 - 1950
After being appointed pastor of St. James the Great
Parish in 1945, Father still oversaw the other Missions
and directed the construction of a church in Montague.
7
1945
Both priests also assisted the mission churches and are recalled by long-time parishioners.
Rev. Anthony Spano, SDB
Rev. Hadelin Mueller, OSB
of
of
Don Bosco Seminary
St. Paul’s Abbey
Newton, NJ
1950
1949-50
8
Pike County Dispatch July 25, 1946
Church was erected
in this section on
River Rd.
Pike County Dispatch July 31, 1947
9
Aug. 30, 1945
NJ Herald
10Rev. Francis Warlikowski
Larry Staudt, Robert Murray, Dick Pratschler,
Unknown, Lottie Henn, Lorraine Zitone
1947 11Rev. Sylvius
Mancini
1950-1954
Built rectory at St.
Rev. Mancini and a Sister from St. Mary’s
Lorraine Zitone & Mary Lou Pratschler
James by 1951
Dick Pratschler & Robert Murray and was the first
Alice Aschenbrenner & Karen Ann Murray St. Jude Church in Budd Lake priest to reside in
1951 was its architectural cousin, Montague.
built in 1946.
12The first Masses for St. Matthew’s
Mission were held under a tent.
“Little Church in Walpack”
It sat across the road from St. Ann’s
Rest - the Bishop’s summer residence
up on the hill. Early on, Masses
during the off season, were likely held
in private homes.
Ellen Ringle & Russell Moffett wedding
[recorded in St. James Parish Register]
The steps from Old Mine Rd. still
remain – south of Pompey Road.
Souls: 20 Winter, Summer 450 131961
Rev. Peter Byron
1954-1961
Panaghiotes Flamiatos was his actual Greek name.
Father Peter held a popular 8PM Sunday evening Mass at St. James.
14Aug. 1959
Rev. Byron with Mrs. Kavanaugh
& altar server, Paul Brislin.
Rev. Joseph L.
Ferrito
May 1954 Temporary
Kenneth Sieperman on left Administrator
1961- 1962,
now Rev. Msgr.
15Rev. John G. Tully
First assigned to St. Matthew’s Mission in 1957, and to St. James & St. Thomas in 1962.
Due to the increasing number of summer residents and visitors crowding St. Matthew’s, Father
opened a church in Sept. 1966 at Blue Mountain Lakes – named as Our Lady of Blue Mountain. He
remained assigned here until 1967.
A former Army Chapel.
16Rev. Leo Fanning
1967- 1969
Corporal Leo Fanning served in Italy during WW2, where he met Padre Pio.
When introduced to him, Padre Pio responded “It is Father Leo Fanning.” He
indeed later became a priest. Minutes before his ordination he received a
congratulatory telegram from Padre Pio, though he had never informed him of
the exact day or time.
17Also assisting at St. Thomas and at the
Walpack Missions until they closed:
Rev. John Boland,
now Rev. Msgr.
1969 – early 1970’s
Summer Assistants to Rev. Fanning
Rev. James Gacquin Rev. Joseph Ryan
Summer 1969 covered occasionally
&
Temporary Admin. would return as
of St. James, Parochial Vicar
and Missions of 1993-94.
Rev. Remigio G. Rocco Rev. John O’Connor
St. Thomas and St.
now Rev. Msgr. Both were
Matthew;
assigned to Pope John XXIII HS
Director at
18
Pope John XXIII HSSome changes between 1960 - 1970:
[These notations were hand written in
an 1962/63 Announcement book the
priest carried to the churches where he
was serving Mass.]
Please use the Mass leaflets and pray
out loud the Prayers at the foot of the
Altar up and including
The Kyrie Eleison
The Gloria, the Credo Rev. Thaddeus
The Orate Frates / “Pray, Brethren…” Michota
The Sanctus, Sanctus
1969-1977
The Paternoster
The Domine Non Sumdignos / “Lord, I
am not worthy..” The North Jersey Photo News
Dec. 1969
By Dec. 1st most of these prayers will
be said by the people in English.
19First Communion - 1970
Note the open back pews.
L-R:
Kathleen Quinn, Mary Pollara
&
Tammy Viserta, Joanne Bea
20Some items came to St. James upon the closure of
Our Lady of Blue Mountain in Walpack.
Pews were stored in Sparta & later acquired
for St. Thomas the Apostle Mission.
21Sept. 1970 OLBM
Father Gacquin would later return as pastor to St.
James & St. Thomas following the death of Father Ted
Michota in 1977.
22Bishop Lawrence B. Casey
seen standing behind the back row.
Back L-R:
Unknown boy; Kathleen (Kate) Quinn [blocked]; Beverly Benson
[blocked]; Mary Pollara; Ailine Jerger; Unknown [blocked].
St. Thomas the Apostle Mission Church
as enlarged ca. 1970 -71
On April 21, 1974, it hosted its first Front L-R:
Confirmation - 2 girls facing each other are Unknown;, Tammy Viserta;
Unknown girl slightly behind them & ahead of Kate; Joanne Bea
Bishop Casey also confirmed those from
[wearing glasses]; Melissa Babcock; Unknown; Unknown.
St. James & the missions in Walpack.
23Brother Mark Hyde
now Father Mark Hyde, SDB & the current Director of the Salesian Missions
Nov. 1972
L-R in back & front rows:
Mary Pollara, Ailene Jerger, Brother Mark Hyde, Kate Quinn, Melissa Babcock, Judy Klemm.
Daniel Glerum, Beverly Benson, Tammy Viserta, Joan Bea.
24St. James Church often held its First Communion and/or
Confirmation jointly with its Missions, followed by a
breakfast given by the Rosary Society in the parish hall.
Fr. Ted welcomed the Salesians of Don Bosco from
Newton, NJ to assist with retreats and religious education.
1976
Boys L-R: Matthew Avenatti,
Charles Sharpe, Richard
Hollyer, Robert Rough.
Girls as identified: 3rd and 4th
from L - Patricia Benson &
Jessica Perrini, 8th & 9th - Beth Mark Iwanicky & Jose Monterrosa, SDB
Olszewski & Renee Massett
25Nov. 1980
photo by
Jean Dai
26At present 135 of New Jersey's 710
parishes have only one priest. In
1981 Sussex County, Msgr. James Gacquin
is the pastor of two parishes, driving
the 12 miles between St. James the
Greater in Montague and St. Thomas
the Apostle in Sandyston Township,
and then regularly taking another 14-
Rev. James Gacquin mile trip to conduct services for
juvenile inmates of the Mountainview
1977-1996 Correctional Facility in Stokes State
Initiated
Forest. The constant travel, which
catechist training in 1978, a
adds up to 43,000 miles a year,
Parish Council in 1979, and
evokes memories of the circuit rider
Ecumenical services.
ministries of an earlier age and brings
east a taste of what is happening
today in Catholic parishes in some
In 1989, Fr. James Gacquin was elevated to Rev. Msgr. Western states.
He is shown with his colleagues, the now Rev. Msgr.
Kiernan McHugh & Rev. Msgr. John V. Boland. Lonely Life: One Parish, One Priest
By JOSEPH F. SULLIVAN,
Published: March 6, 1993 NY Times
27ca. 1987-88 ca. 1999- 2000
L-R Josh & Doug Sandberg,
Mike Car, & Walter Journey
2011
28On December 9, 1987, the Jubilee Year of the Diocese of
Paterson, Bishop Frank J. Rodimer elevated St. Thomas the
Apostle Mission (territorially the largest in the diocese) to full
Parish status.
291992
30Rev. Edward P. Liptack, SDB was the first to be ordained from St. James.
He celebrated his first Mass at the church on June 23rd, 1959.
Parish motto: +
+ Nizi Dominus Frustra +
“Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.”
Rev. Edward Liptack SDB, Rev. Joseph Ryan, Bishop Frank J. Rodimer, Rev. Msgr. James Gacquin
at
St. James’ 50th Anniversary Observance
July 24, 1993 31As inscribed in Gaelic on the right hand door:
"Ar dheis
Dé go raibh
a anam"
Translation:
“May his soul be at the right hand of God”
32August 1996 Father Rainforth’s Installation
as pastor at St. James
Rev. Thomas Rainforth
1996 - 1997
33Rev. Gerald F. Lewis
1997 Admin; then Pastor 1998 - 2003
Rev. Msgr. Eugene McQuaid – was Temp. Admin. 1996
following Msgr. Gacquin’s death.
Parishioner Wayne von Doehren was ordained
to the Permanent Diaconate on May 5th, 2001
- with Fr. Lewis in attendance. 34Upon Father Lewis’ retirement,
Rev. A. Richard Carton
was appointed pastor:
2003-2007
On January 1, 2007,
the Monsignor James
Gacquin Youth and Religious
Education Center was
dedicated.
35Rev. Wayne Varga
Temporary Admin. in 2002
Rev. Msgr. Peter McHugh during Fr. Lewis’ tenure,
Temporary Admin. 2007 returning as Pastor
2007 - present
In Father Varga’s words:
“Let us pray that the Lord will continue to bless us and help us to
prosper. May our parish community remain strong in the Lord and
continue to spread the Good News of His love.”
36Special thanks to
Father Wayne Varga for offering the privilege to compile this history of St. James the
Greater Parish and granting access to information; Rev. Msgr. Raymond Kupke for providing data
and permission to use his Diocesan Archive photo; the information shared by Bishop Emeritus
Frank Rodimer, Rev. Msgr. John V. Boland, Rev. Msgr. Joseph Ferrito, Rev. Edward Liptak SDB,
and Salesians: Rev. Dave Moreno, SDB & Rev. Mark Hyde, SDB; The Beacon for permission to
copy its articles and file photos; info Bob Quinn had compiled for the 50th anniversary; Alan B.
Delozier and Kathleen S. Dodds of Seton Hall Univ.; information from Lottie [Henn] Durland, Pat
[Henn] Long, Helen [Zitone] Gassmann, Emmy Massett, Charles Meloi, Maureen McHugh, Pat
(Staudt) Walsh, and Josephine Yarosz; Joanna (Reinhardt) Muhlbeck & Betsy Reinhardt for Rock
View info; Mike Milligan for copying the Luthman family’s image of St. Bartholomew Church; the
National Park Service for sharing photos of Our Lady of Blue Mountain; Tom Costello for providing
photos from Pope John XXIII HS Yearbooks; and for the photos shared by, with some included here,
from: Paul Brislin, the Michael Car family, Jean Dai, Mary Flexer, Richard Hollyer, Mary LaRusso,
William Liptak, Doris Sieperman, Mary (Pollara) Stoddard, Shirley Strong, Mary Tully,
Deacon Wayne von Doehren, and Karen (Murray) Winters.
Fr. Fanning’s info was located online from in Padre Pio Newsletter, Issue 31.
Powerpoint created by Alicia Batko for the 75th Anniversary celebration of St. James the Greater Parish of Montague, NJ on July 22nd, 2018
and presented by Doug SandbergYou can also read
